Toasting the New Year
I don't know if I admire or pity parents who let their kids stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve. Frankly, about 9:30 p.m., I just tell my kids, "close enough," and have them head to bed. It's not that I'm a party pooper – well, maybe it is – but the kids don't really care whether it's midnight or 10, as long as they get to stay up a little later. And my kids get a bad case of the crankies (and yeah, maybe I do, too) if they stay up too late. So I keep to a decent bedtime, even on New Year's Eve.
That's not to say I don't celebrate the passing of another year with my kids. We love to hang out with friends, play games and watch movies. This year, I'm even putting my kids in charge of a few of the drinks to share with friends. I have a drink for each of my kids to mix up. For the youngest, it's something really simple – a pitcher and a big spoon is all the equipment she'll need. My middle child can handle something a bit more complex, so she'll get to break out the mixer. And my oldest: She'll need to taste-test her concoction to get it just right.
So if you're looking to get your kids more involved in the New Year's Eve preparations, why not let them mix up one of these three drinks? I've listed them from easiest to hardest. Leave a comment and tell me which one was your favorite. They're all good to the last crumb ... I mean, sip!
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Reader Comments:
I remember my parents letting us stay up until midnight, and we'd be crashed out on the floor by 11, faces red and swollen from exhausted crying. ;)
I tend to avoid the bruhaha of New Year's Eve. I think the kids and my husband and I will have a nice quiet evening at home!
I'm letting my daughter (age 5) try to stay up because she really wants to see the ball drop and she's been talking about it all year. She REALLY wanted to see it drop in NYC, but I told her that TV was better. It really is in my opinion. At any rate, she's in her PJs with teeth brushed and a little bed-nest on the floor. So I give her til, um, 10 p.m if not sooner before she conks. It's true that she'll be grumpy tomorrow, but my husband and I will share that duty.
Something about "special" drinks always makes events seem more...special!